City activists and promoters prepare for annual Labor Day "Black Pride" celebration

By Sr. Correspondent, D. Kevin McNeir

Black Pride celebrations begin each year April, traditionally beginning in Austin (Texas), Philadelphia and then Washington, D.C. right around Memorial Day Weekend. So it should be no surprise that an estimated 75,000 are expected to swoop down on the city of Atlanta like the birds of Capistrano to take part in the country's largest cultural event promoting a positive look at SGL and LGBTQ communities of color and African descent.

 

 

The 13th Annual Atlanta Black Pride celebration runs Sept. 2 - 7 during the Labor Day Weekend and is presented by In the Life Atlanta (ITLA) Inc. This year the bulk of the activities, not including the numerous parties that promoters and private hosts will sponsor throughout the area, will be held at The Grand Atlanta Hyatt in Buckhead.

"ITLA is still here and still here for you and we [will] continue to provide safe spaces that affirm the lives and contributions of Black gays and lesbians because of the perseverance and determination of our outstanding volunteers," said Raymond R. Duke, president, ITLA board of directors, in a prepared statement.

The weekend will once again bring parties with a purpose, celebrity appearances and performances, workshops and seminars intended to inspire participants and health and wellness programs to a community that is quite diverse in its likes and dislikes.

In addition, during the weekend, celebrated authors including T.D. Faison, G. Winston James, Dapharoah69 and Rodney Lofton will be appearing either at the host hotel for a Friday night reception, Outwrite! Bookstore & Coffee House (one of the largest LGBT landmarks in the South), or both.

Special note should be taken that a tribute to the late E. Lynn Harris will be held on Sun., Sept. 6th at 7:30 p.m. at Outwrite! Special guests will be present to share their words about one of the community's most celebrated authors and beloved friends.

A special Town Hall Meeting will take place on Sunday, Sept. 6th, organized by Michael J. Brewer, a recent Morehouse graduate that will feature the views and voices of younger members of the LGBT community as they discuss "new ways to battle some old problems."

 

According to Darlene Hudson, co-chairperson for the Summit, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 5th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at The Renaissance Hotel, this year's summit will provide "a mixture of colorful, smart and talented LGBT people and straight allies. They are at the top of their game in their respective fields and are gifted in their ability to impart their knowledge to others. We still have a number of issues to deal with and if we could take a fraction of the energy that goes into partying and entertaining - which we do not put down - and put it into mobilizing around some of these issues, then we will have accomplished a lot."

This writer, then new to the city of Atlanta after a move from Chicago, attended last year's Summit where Sheryl Lee Ralph was the keynote speaker. However, despite her exuberance and powerful message, only about 100 people showed up.

Hudson says that the question may not be so much "why don't they attend but how do we organizers get the message out there that you can make a difference armed with the kind of knowledge we are presenting at the Summit?"

On Sunday, Sept. 6th, the focus will return to The Grand Hyatt where Bishop Yvette Flunder, presiding bishop of Refuge Ministries/The Fellowship and pastor of The Refuge Community Church UCC, San Francisco will serve as the guest speaker for the Interfaith Service. Flunder has also been tapped as the keynote speaker for the Summit.

 

BET will be in the house, taping portions of the Youth Speak Out, facilitated by Anare Holmes that will address homophobia in the black community. Holmes, who was previously a member of the ITLA board, is also working on a film festival that promises to bring entertaining yet controversial films for the community to view and discuss. Information regarding the film festival was unavailable when this story went to press.

With all of these positive events taking place, one might ask if brothers and sisters are making too much about their nemesis - homophobia. But Hudson says it still lives and hurts far too many.
"Homophobia is still alive and well," she said. "LGBT people face discrimination at work, in their religious institutions, and in many homes. In particular, our transgender brothers and sisters are often marginalized, even sometimes in the gay community. Many black LGBT people weigh the price of coming out and all too many come to the conclusion that it's just not worth it. Many feel they are already at the bottom in this society because of their color - to be further excluded because of their sexuality can be too much emotionally for many of them."

We do not presume that a full schedule of activities has been provided here. It still remains a challenge to access a complete list of things to do given the large number of organizations, businesses and socially conscious individuals who plan things according to their particular constituencies. However, this is at least a start.

Of course some of you already have plans of your own. Some will take a stroll in Piedmont Park waving to old friends or perhaps hoping to make new ones. Others will participate in the late night tailgating parties at Bulldogs Bar, one of the last remaining fixtures among Atlanta's gay bars from the 1970s. One thing is for certain, there will be plenty to do. So have a great time and as always, play safe.
For a complete schedule of pride events sponsored by ITLA go to www.inthelifeatlanta.com/pride/schedule

For more information about some of the parties, go to www.wassupnatl.com. For a schedule of author appearances and signing go to www.outwritebooks.com

For information about the summit go to www.sbgasummit.org
For information about the interfaith service contact Charles Shackelford at cshackelford@inthelifeatlanta.com